Page 105 - The Master Handbook Of Acoustics

80 CHAPTER THREE

Pitch is a subjective term. Frequency is the associated physical
term, and the two have only a general relationship.
Subjective timbre or quality of sound and the physical spectrum
of the sound are related, but not equal.

The nonlinearity of the ear generates intermodulation products
and spurious harmonics.
The Haas, or precedence, effect describes the ability of the ear to
integrate all sound arriving within the first 50 msec, making it
sound louder.

Although the ear is not effective as a measuring instrument
yielding absolute values, it is very keen in comparing frequen-
cies, levels, or sound quality.

Occupational and recreational noises are taking their toll in per-
manent hearing loss. Definite precautionary steps to minimize
this type of environmentally caused deafness are recommended.

Endnotes
1 Bloom, P.J., Creating source illusions by special manipulation, J. Audio Eng. So., 25 (1977)
560-565.
2 Mehrgardt, S and V. Mellert, Transformation characteristics of the external human ear, J.
Acous. Soc. Am., 61, 6 (1977) 1567-1576.
3 Moore, Brian C.J., An introduction to the psychology of hearing, New York, Academic Press
(1982).
4 Pickles, James D., An introduction to the physiology of hearing, 2nd. ed., San Diego,
Academic Press (1988).
5 Tobias, Jerry V. Ed., Foundations of modern auditory theory, Vol. 1, New York, Academic
Press (1970).
6 Tobias, Jerry V., Ed., Foundations of modern auditory theory, Vol. 2, New York, Academic
Press (1972).
7 Fletcher, H. and W.A. Munson, Loudness, its definition, measurement, and calculations, J.
Acous. Soc. Am., 5 (1933) 82-108.
8 Robinson, D.W. and R.S. Dadson, A re-determination of the equal-loudness relations for
pure tones, British J. of Appl. Psychology., 7 (1956) 166-181. (Adopted by the International
Standards Organization as ISO-226.)